Something Precious In One

No pizzas yet? says Sweezus.

Not yet, you've time for a shower, says Lauren.

Sweezus disappears out the back.

Lauren looks at the drips on the floor where Arthur is standing.

This has no effect on Arthur.

He continues to drip.

Hello, Arthur, says Kierkegaard.

My old shorts, says Arthur. Where were they?

Gaius lent them to me, says Kierkegaard. I hope you don't mind.

They were good shorts, says Arthur.

They still are, says Kierkegaard. Belle helped me get the stains out.

It wasn't the stains that stopped them being good, says Arthur.

Oh? says Kierkegaard. What was it?

Can't remember, says Arthur. Could have been holes.

Kierkgaard is sure that if there had been holes in the skull shorts, Belle would have found them, and said.

Nevertheless he checks the back, the zip and the pockets.

Look, says Terence, pointing at the jam jar on the table. My fish is surrounded!

By three crabs in a semi circle? asks Lauren.

We've got four, says Terence. But one's in a pickle jar.

Gaius produces the pickle jar, in which Alexander-Yellowsun floats amongst the dill and the traces of poetry.

The three crabs shuffle into different positions.

Now Terence's fish (unlucky) is surrounded by crabs. But one is a DEAD ONE!

Now it's sad, says Terence.

How can you tell? asks Gaius.

Its mouth is turned down, says Terence.

Gaius is too kind to point out that its mouth was turned down before.

Sweezus comes back in dry clothes but with wet hair still dripping.

Lauren looks at the drips on the floor.

This has no effect on Sweezus.

Still no pizzas? asks Sweezus.

Ah! says Kierkegaard.

What is it? asks Lauren.

Holes in both pockets, says Kierkegaard.

Lucky nothing was in them, says Lauren.

Now I remember, says Arthur. That's how I lost my bamboo sticks.

But Kierkegaard isn't concerned about Arthur's bamboo sticks.

There WAS something precious in one of the pockets.